Rick Lester

It saddens me to report to you that Drury Trustee William F. (Rick) Lester died Saturday afternoon, July 20, 2013. Rick died after suffering a medical crisis while riding in the Courage Classic bicycle tour through Colorado. The specific cause of death has not been determined.

Drury Trustee Rick Lester

Rick was a 1974 graduate of Drury University and was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees in 2001. As a member of the Board, Rick chaired the Development Committee and served on special committees at the request of various Chairmen. He was an unabashedly vibrant supporter of Drury University and kept student success at the forefront of his efforts. Most recently, Rick served on the Performing Arts Advisory Council as part of the Drury Connect Initiative.

Rick Lester was the CEO of TRG (Target Resource Group), a company he founded in 1995 following a career in arts management. He served as president and executive director of the San Antonio Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Knoxville Symphony. Before that, he was a marketing and public relations professional for the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. At each of his career stops he helped bring in record revenue and contributions. Throughout his career he consulted for orchestras and other non-profit organizations.

Rick earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Drury in 1974, and a master of business administration from Queens College in Charlotte, N.C. Over the past few months, Rick served as a visiting professor at Southern Methodist University. He resided in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Please keep Sandy Lester and all of Rick’s family in your thoughts and prayers. As more information on funeral arrangements becomes available, I will communicate those to you.

About Drury University

Drury offers bright, achieving students a commitment to personalized education and diversity. Students expect - and are expected - to explore great ideas and confront questions that will successfully prepare them for dynamic careers and enhanced lives as active global participants. A Drury education combines professional training with the liberal arts. More than 70 majors and academic programs are available.